Accolades from business, medical and community people touched Ren? Webb’s heart, but her children’s emotional outpouring of admiration and love left her and 200 guests in tears.

Karim Malik Webb, Kiana Webb Severloh and Kyle Aaron Webb couldn’t contain their tears and didn’t even try. They opened up their hearts for public viewing and let everyone see the intensity of their love for their mother.

The emotional exchange between mother and children spread rapidly around the room, enveloping everyone at the National Multiple Sclerosis Society/Inland Empire’s first Dinner of Champions.

With Ren as its first champion honoree, the regional society raised more than $70,000 from the dinner held Jan. 28 at Rancho Cucamonga’s Red Hill Country Club. Ren? ‘s Joyful Noise team has raised $200,000 in fundraising walk pledges for MS research and treatment.

Ren co-owns 11 McDonald’s restaurants with her husband Reggie. She serves as Pomona-Claremont Soroptimist Club president and acts as a benefactor for the Inland Valley Kids Health Fair, Crossroads, Martin Luther King Jr. Youth Social Justice Awards and projects empowering women, children and families.

Developer Randall Williams, acting as master of ceremonies, called Ren a “beacon of light” and “example of fighting and standing in faith.”

Event chairman Mike Radlovic, a real estate investment executive, added “angel” to the praise about the woman he said possesses “an energetic aura” and “joy about life.” The Rev. Gerron O’Neal of Pomona’s Fountain of Love Christian Center spoke about the strength of a woman who valiantly encourages others to fight against the debilitating disease that literally impacts an individual’s ability to move.

“When I met her years ago, she was so stricken with multiple sclerosis she could barely move,”

Voight recalled. “But she handled it. She didn’t complain or whine. She doesn’t tolerate the feel-sorry-for-me attitude from anyone.”

On the contrary, Ren? ‘s “tenacity and kind-hearted spirit have made the difference for others with MS,” said Ramsay Awad, McDonald’s Southern California field services co-director. “She combats the disease with strength, dignity and grace.”

“Ren is a true role model for women of any age,”said Dr. Linda Bosserman-Piatt, an oncology physician. “She reminds us that the pillars of a happy life are faith, family, fidelity and passion.”

Paul Mahoney, National Multiple Sclerosis Society/Southern California’s board chairman, called MS a devastating, non-discriminatory disease that strikes people of varying ethnic and age groups.

“Multiple sclerosis interrupts the flow of information from the brain to the body and literally stops people from moving,” Mahoney explained. “Imagine the electrical system in your car going out when you’re driving 60 miles-per-hour. That’s how MS affects the human body.

“It is not a one-size-fits-all-people disease,” he said. “Some people with MS go their entire life and can reasonably move and function. Others wake up in the morning and can’t move. That’s why events like this are very important.”

Ren focuses on family, community service and spiritual faith. She agreed to become the first Inland Empire champion because she wanted to increase awareness and funds for emergency services for the 2,500 MS sufferers in the region.

Kyle, Ren? ‘s youngest child, began his personal tribute by leaning over the podium, staring into his mom’s eyes and declaring “I love you, Mom. I love you.”

It was uphill all the way from that point on for Kyle, Karim and Kiana.

“When I was 12 years old, my mom was supposed to die,” Kyle said, pausing as he choked back the memory of that pain. “She was bedridden and the doctor told my dad he didn’t think she’d last `til the end of the week. I was standing there and my dad started to cry. He cried on my shoulder.

“Clearly my mom is a champion because she championed through her disease and struggled to live. She struggled for us because we weren’t ready for her to go,” continued the Morehouse College graduate. “The five of us share a bond that’s unexplainable. When you fight back, you can conquer any challenge.”

Everyone may not suffer from MS, but everyone has a mother, said Karim. The Buffalo Wild Wings franchise owner counted himself blessed to have a mother who lives in faith.

“All of us have benefitted from her prayers,” Karim said. “We’ve gotten what we have because of her prayers. We know our lives wouldn’t be what they are without her prayers and love.”

Karim learned the true meaning of strength from watching the considerable effort it took for Ren to get up every day, walk from the bedroom to the kitchen and never complain about the disease attacking her central nervous system.

“When I or you think things are hard, think about my mother, what she has endured, the way she daily handles herself and struggles to live her life normally,” he advised. “And with all that, she gives unconditional love. She loves you in your best times and your worst times and lets you know you always have a place to call home.

“For all those reasons and more, Mom, I love you and admire you. You are my hero,” Karim said, wiping away tears as Kiana and Kyle held him.

Gripping the podium, Kiana spent a few minutes just crying before conceding “it’s very hard to talk about my mother.”

“I don’t want to talk about the disease,” said the daughter who owns three McDonald’s restaurants herself. “It is a fact of life, but it is not how we live our lives.”

Kiana said she knew she could have no better role model than her mother, but she gained even greater understanding of the special relationship she shared with Ren? when she became a mother herself.

“I always had her to lean on and go to when I needed her,” Kiana said. “She loves her kids. She loves her husband. She loves the world. She loves God. And we all know it. If I can give my kids a tenth of what my mother has given us, I know absolutely they will be all right.”

After wiping her own tears and clinging to the strong arms of her husband, Ren slowly rose and moved forward with the help of an intricately carved African walking stick.

She spoke of perseverance, love, friendship, faith and family. She voiced appreciation to friends, relatives and aides who helped her endure. She injected her speech with humorous anecdotes which sparked uproarious laughter throughout the room.